Marvellous Mid-Norfolk!

The Prototype HST Power Car and 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches have completed a marvellous weekend of passenger running at the Mid-Norfolk Spring Diesel Gala. There were many highlights, including photo-shoot run pasts at the picturesque private station of Hardingham, working with the MNR’s resident Mk3 and Mk2 coaches with electric train supply from 41001, a trip to the current northern end of the route at Hoe and the unforgettable Saturday evening run on which 41001 hauled a combined load of six Mk2 coaches and three class 50 locomotives, working the classic Valenta power car harder than ever!

41001 Dereham MNR (c)125 Group

Thankyou to all who came along and bought tickets to travel over this wonderful weekend, we hope you enjoyed the event as much as we did. The 125 Group team would like to offer special thanks to everyone at the Mid-Norfolk Railway for their excellent organisation and very warm welcome, it has been an absolute pleasure operating the Prototype HST with you on your splendid railway.

41001 and the Mk3s are today (Monday 4th April) leaving the MNR on the next leg of their Spring tour, bound for Leicester then onto the Nene Valley Railway. The HST departed from Dereham at 0615 as part of a convoy hauled by top’n’tail class 50 locomotives, running as 5Z50 via Wymondham (0722-0726), Ely North Curve, March (08/44), Peterborough (09/04), Oakham (09/36), Leicester (1028). The full schedule for the movement can be found courtesy of Realtime Trains here: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K96040/2016/04/04/advanced  These are the planned timings, routing and traction, all of which can change at short notice on the day subject to operational constraints, and the train may run early or late.

Mid-Norfolk Railway Spring Diesel Gala

D400 seen from 41001’s cab during transit from GCRN to MNR 31st March 2016 (c)125 Group

High Speed Train Prototype Power Car 41001 and 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches 12092, 10206 and 11074 have arrived safely at the Mid-Norfolk Railway, following transit from their home base Ruddington GCR(N). They will be taking part in the MNR’s Spring Diesel Gala this weekend, working passenger trains on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd April.

Mk3s 10213 and 12092 at Dereham, Mid Norfolk Railway 31st March 2016 (c)125 Group

Highlights include 41001 hauling the longest rake of Mk3 coaches in Preservation, special run-pasts at Hardingham station, ‘The Breckland Fryer’ breakfast trains, plus many other diesel locomotives including no less than three English Electric class 50s. Come and experience the Prototype HST fitted with the original classic Paxman Valenta engine, bringing to life the sights and sounds of the 1970s. Full details including special timetables, locomotive rosters and ticketing information can be found on the MNR website.